Transcript
My name is Jesse Daw, and I’m attending ASH as a member of the Myeloma Voices team from the International Myeloma Foundation. I’m going to share some of the research presented from the iStopMM program.
This initiative in Iceland engaged over 75,000 adults in screening, revealing 1,456 MGUS and 210 smoldering myeloma cases.
This screening sets the stage for a series of studies shedding light on the impact of early detection.
Recent insights from the project indicate that screening alters the clinical progression of multiple myeloma.
Individuals identified through screening exhibited lower complications upon progression with reduced instances, instances of renal failure, anemia, CRAB criteria, and acute presentations compared to the control group.
This discovery underscores the potential benefits of early identification and intervention in exploring the psychological impact of MGUS, or smoldering myeloma diagnosis.
Their research didn’t find evidence of increased levels of depression or anxiety or decreased levels of life satisfaction.
However, a caveat [with] iStopMM involves a very homogeneous population with access to free healthcare.
Research cited by Mayberry from the U.S. indicated comparable anxiety levels between individuals with precursor conditions and those with active myeloma, thus urging consideration of cultural and healthcare system differences.
In interpreting such findings, the iStop team has also studied specific markers, particularly free light chain ratio.
They suggest the potential for an increase in the upper range to 3.15 for M Gus progression, hinting at refined markers for disease evolution.
Additionally, a surprising correlation emerged between non-IgM MGUS and thrombosis events.
Researchers are delving deeper to try to understand the mechanisms behind this link, aiming to enhance the well-being and survival rates of individuals with MGUS.
That’s the iStopMM Update. Thanks for watching.